Anna Melisano and Dione Barbosa kicked off UFC OKC in a women's bout streamed live on Paramount+. The matchup served as the opening contest on the card.
Anna Melisano and Dione Barbosa opened the UFC OKC card with a women's bout streamed live on Paramount+, serving as the first fight of the evening on July 18, 2026.
Dione Barbosa, nicknamed "The Witch," enters the contest as a 34-year-old Brazilian fighter out of Kings MMA carrying a professional record of 9-4-0. Standing 168 cm tall with a matching 168 cm reach and fighting out of an orthodox stance, Barbosa brings a well-rounded game to the octagon. She averages 2.4 takedowns per 15 minutes and posts 1.7 submission attempts in the same span, signaling genuine danger on the ground. Her striking output sits at 2.21 significant strikes landed per minute at a 45 percent accuracy rate, making her a measured and efficient competitor across all phases.
Verified data for Anna Melisano was not available at the time of publication, limiting the detail that can be provided on her statistical profile ahead of this contest.
Why it matters
- Opening-card bouts on Paramount+ give emerging fighters valuable live broadcast exposure to a wide audience.
- Barbosa's submission threat and takedown volume make her a stylistically challenging first-fight assignment for any opponent.
- A strong performance by either fighter in a showcase slot can accelerate movement up the women's divisional ladder.
